Covid-19 Bulletin No.45: Ontario's Proof Of Vaccination Program – Welcome To Vaccine Passports

With reluctance, the Ontario Government has introduced the Vaccine Passport.  Ontario residents will need to either print or download their second dose receipt from the government website until the enhanced certificate becomes available on or around October 22^nd 2021. Proof signed by an Indigenous health provider or a receipt from “another jurisdiction” will also be accepted. Starting today, proof of vaccination status will be required to eat indoors at restaurants and bars, to enter the gym, movie theatres, nightclubs, sporting venues or concerts, and to use large meeting and event spaces.

In order to enter a vaccine-mandated business, patrons will have to provide proof of their status and provide identification at the door before entry is granted. Employees will be required to match the name and date of birth listed on the vaccination receipt with the information on the identification. The receipt must show that the individual has received their second dose and employees will need to verify that the date of administration was at least 14 days prior.

The government confirmed that examples of identification documents that can be used to confirm vaccine status include:

• a birth certificate;
• a citizenship card;
• a driver’s licence;
• a government issued identification card (including a health card, an Indian Status Card or Indigenous Membership Card);
• a passport; or
• a permanent resident card.

Photo ID is not required.

Non-compliance by individuals or businesses may result in fines under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17 (the “Reopening Ontario Act”) between $75.00 and $1,000.00. The province has decided to take a “measured approach” to enforce the vaccine mandate and officers will start with education and warnings to ensure that businesses are following the proper protocols. The provincial officers, along with by-law, police, public health inspectors and regulatory officers are allowed to provide education and enforcement to businesses who do not comply with the program.

Exemptions

Proof of vaccination will not be required if someone is simply paying for a take-out order or using a washroom of an indoor establishment where vaccination is mandatory. Further, it will not be required at essential services, including but not limited to, grocery stores, religious services, pharmacies, and banks nor will it be required to enter a hair salon or shopping mall.

Exemptions are also given to those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and for children under 12 years old who are not yet eligible for the vaccine in the province. Children between the age of 12 and 18 will also be allowed to enter indoor sports and recreation facilities without showing proof of vaccination but only “solely for the purpose of actively participating in an organized sport.”

Individuals with a medical exemption must show identification and a written document that has been signed by a registered physician and satisfies the government’s medical exemptions, that being either: i) the individual is allergic to a component of the vaccine, which must be confirmed by an allergist or immunologist; or ii) the individual suffered myocarditis or pericarditis after the first dose of the vaccine. No other medical exemption will be accepted.

It is important to note that no individual, regardless of their vaccine status, will be prevented from attending a polling station to vote in the upcoming federal election on September 20^th 2021.

How do I retrieve my vaccination receipt?

If you are fully vaccinated you will need to visit the provincial website to retrieve your vaccination receipt (if same was not emailed to you after receiving your second dose). Click here to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccine from the provincial website. Please note that if you do not have a green health card, you will not be able to retrieve your receipt from the website and instead you will need to call 1-833-943-390 and the customer service desk will email you a copy of your receipt.

It is recommended that you print or save your receipts as a PDF to a mobile device which can then be used as proof of vaccination. Apple users can also download and save their proof of vaccination to their Apple Wallet. For more information on how to do so, click here. 

Please refer to our previous COVID-19 Bulletins, which contain information on recommended protocols and procedures to be implemented condominiums.

Please ensure that you speak with legal counsel if your condominium does not already have COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to help manage the risks associated with COVID-19.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our team:

All of the information contained in this article is of a general nature for informational purposes only, and is not intended to represent the definitive opinion of the firm of Elia Associates on any particular matter. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, the reader should not act upon it without obtaining appropriate professional advice and assistance.